Two Broward Residents Sentenced to 12 and 11 Years in Prison in Stolen Identity Tax Fraud Scheme Involving the Personal Identifying Information of Deceased Individuals

Two Broward County residents were sentenced to 12 and 11 years in prison for their participation in a stolen identity tax fraud scheme involving the personal identifying information of deceased individuals.

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Kelly R. Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), and George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, made the announcement.

Maurice Exavier, 36, of Lauderhill, was sentenced to 145 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Carline Maurice, 36, was sentenced to 132 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. The defendants were ordered to pay joint and several restitution in the amount of $1,265,611.  Exavier and Maurice were previously convicted by a trial jury of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349, one count of conspiracy to commit identity fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1028(f), fifteen counts of wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343, and five counts of aggravated identity theft, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1028A. 

According to evidence presented at trial, Exavier and Maurice acquired and used the names, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers of deceased individuals to file false tax returns with the IRS that contained fraudulent claims for refunds. Exavier and Maurice sought payment of the refunds as Refund Anticipation Checks (RACs), checks issued by a bank for the amount of a claimed refund minus deductions for tax preparation and other service fees, if applicable. The RACs were then printed locally at a tax preparation company where a particular defendant had access or control. The refund checks were then deposited into a bank account controlled by defendants Exavier and Maurice so the funds could be used for the personal benefit and use of the conspirators.

Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of IRS-CI and the FBI. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen E. Rochlin.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.